Timbers down Fire for first win in MLS

Apr 15, 2011 - 5:59 AM
Portland, OR (Sports Network) - Jorge Perlaza scored twice and the expansion
Portland Timbers beat the Chicago Fire, 4-2, on Thursday in their home opener
at Jeld-Wen Field for their first-ever win in Major League Soccer.

Perlaza scored in the 29th and 47th minutes as Portland (1-2-1) built a three-
goal lead and held off Chicago (1-2-1) on a rainy night.

Rodney Wallace also scored for the Timbers, who had just two goals in their
first three games, and Marco Pappa scored his second goal of year for Chicago.
Each team also had an own goal.

Perlaza notched the opener just before the half-hour mark after he chased down
a pass from Kenny Cooper on the left, avoided Chicago's Logan Pause in the box
and fired past goalie Sean Johnson.

Wallace doubled Portland's lead in the 38th, sending a deflected half-volley
past Johnson for his first goal since 2009. Perlaza bagged his second goal two
minutes after halftime when Johnson failed to control a cross and he drove the
ball inside the left post from close range.

Chicago pulled a goal back in the 66th when Eric Brunner played the ball into
his own net, and Pappa cut the deficit to one goal in the 81st with a curling
shot into the upper left from 16 yards.

Portland responded two minutes later, though, as a scramble on the goal line
ended when Chicago's Dasan Robinson put the ball over his own line.

The Timbers will try to build on the win Sunday when they host FC Dallas, and
the Fire return home to host the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday.